Australian national Simon Peter Carman, 46, has been charged with murder following the discovery of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla's body. Police allege Carman met Ms. Donhomla on Thursday on Pattaya's Beach Road before they returned to his hotel.
CCTV footage reportedly shows the pair entering an elevator together. Hours later, Carman was allegedly captured on camera leaving the hotel with a black suitcase. Ms. Donhomla's body was found stuffed inside a suitcase near a railway line, approximately ten minutes from Carman's hotel.
Carman was arrested on Friday while attempting to board a Jetstar flight to Perth at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. In a video statement to police, Carman allegedly claimed that Ms. Donhomla had demanded money and attempted to rob him.
"I had my wallet open to get my money out, next thing I know there's a knife in my face," Carman reportedly told investigators. When questioned by a reporter about scratches on his neck, Carman denied killing Ms. Donhomla, suggesting they were from a spider.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.